One week into the NBA season, and we’ve already had some big performances from Canadian players around the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander things, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is picking up where he left off last season, and Jamal Murray has already reminded us what he can do when he gets hot.

Of course, not everyone has had the same start. Some guys are still finding their rhythm, while others have been a little disappointing out of the gate. There are a lot of Canadians in the NBA, and I can’t get to everyone in one article. However, there are some familiar names worth talking about, so here’s how they’ve looked through the first week.

RJ Barrett – Toronto Raptors

We have to start with RJ Barrett. He’s the lone Canadian on the only Canadian team in the league, and he’s got a lot riding on this season with a new contract coming up. So far, so good.

Barrett is averaging 21 points through Toronto’s first three games, making him the only Raptor averaging more than 20. He’s also putting up five rebounds and three assists while shooting 51 percent from the field. The minutes are there, the shots are there, and he’s been one of Toronto’s most reliable scoring options early on.

The one thing that needs work? His shooting from the outside and at the free-throw line. Barrett has made just one of his 11 three-point attempts and is shooting an ugly 58.8 percent from the stripe. The free throws are especially frustrating because he’s doing a good job of getting to the basket and drawing contact. He’s putting himself in position to score; now he needs to make teams pay for fouling him.

It’s only been three games, but this is the kind of start Barrett needed in a contract year. Keep scoring, clean up those shooting numbers, and he’ll give the Raptors plenty to think about when it’s time to talk money.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder

If you thought SGA was going to slow down after winning back-to-back MVPs, think again. He opened the season with 32 points against San Antonio, along with six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks. Not a bad way to get things started, especially against the team that ended Oklahoma City’s playoff run last season.

Then came Thursday night against Denver, when SGA finished with just 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting. It was his first game scoring fewer than 20 points since October 30, 2024, ending an incredible streak of 141 consecutive regular-season games with at least 20. For pretty much anyone else, 17 points would be a solid night. For SGA, it was practically headline news.

He got right back to work in his next game, dropping 34 points against the Clippers to go with six rebounds and five assists. He followed that performance with another dominant one against the Suns, dropping 26 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in just 30 minutes of action.

After a rare quiet night against Denver, SGA has looked every bit like the MVP-calibre player we’ve come to expect, and Oklahoma City hasn’t missed a beat, starting off the season undefeated at 4-0. That’s quite impressive, especially with the early-season adversity the Thunder are dealing with. Prayers up for Jalen Williams, who looks set to miss the entire season with an ankle injury.

Lu Dort – Atlanta Hawks

Dort has had a quieter start to life in Atlanta. Through three games, he’s averaging 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists while taking just 7.3 shots per game, a career low. His three-point shot hasn’t been falling either. A career 35.7 percent shooter from deep, Dort has opened the season just 4-for-17 from beyond the arc. He’s still adjusting to a new team and system, but Atlanta will need him to find his shot and be a little more aggressive offensively.

It’s not the kind of offensive production we’re used to seeing from Dort, but there’s some adjustment involved when you join a new team and have to figure out where you fit. He’s still capable of making an impact without scoring, particularly on the defensive end.

That said, I’d like to see him look for his shot a little more. Dort has shown he can contribute offensively, and as he gets more comfortable in Atlanta, there’s reason to expect his numbers to climb.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Atlanta Hawks

While Dort is settling in, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has wasted no time getting going. After winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award last season, Alexander-Walker is averaging 18.8 points through the first week. He’s also putting up 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals per game while shooting 38.2 percent from three.

That’s a strong start for a player who showed last season that he could be much more than a role player. Alexander-Walker has become a reliable scoring option, and he’s carrying that confidence into this season. He’s already the Hawks’ second-leading scorer, and if he can keep producing at this level, he could find himself getting some All-Star votes. Obviously, it’s early, but it’s exciting to see a Canadian continue to build on a breakout season rather than take a step back.

Dillon Brooks – Phoenix Suns

Speaking of players coming off career years, Dillon Brooks is still trying to find that same scoring touch in his second season with Phoenix. After averaging a career-high 20.2 points last season, he opened the year with just 14.3 points per game through his first two outings.

Brooks showed some signs of getting back on track in his third game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. That’s more like it for a player who’s never been afraid to get his shots up.

The Suns are going to need that kind of production from Brooks if they want to make some noise in the West. His scoring will be important, but his ability to defend, create plays and bring some toughness to the lineup makes him valuable beyond the box score. It’s still early, but his performance against OKC was a step in the right direction.

Andrew Wiggins – Miami Heat

Wiggins hasn’t had the start Miami was hoping for. He’s averaging just 8.8 points through four games, shooting 40.0 percent from the field and 12.3 percent from three. The Heat are also sitting at 0-4, so it’s been a rough opening week all around.

Miami brought Giannis Antetokounmpo into the picture this offseason, but the move also cost the team some depth. That leaves Wiggins with a real opportunity to be one of the team’s go-to scoring options. He hasn’t taken advantage of it…at least not yet.

Some of this is understandable. Miami is still figuring out how to make its offence work with Giannis and Bam Adebayo on the floor together, and Wiggins isn’t going to shoot this poorly all season. But he’s a veteran, and the Heat need him to do more than seven points a night.

Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets

Jamal Murray went from having a game he’d rather forget to dropping 42 points. That’s a pretty good way to answer your critics. Murray’s season opener against Oklahoma City was ugly. He shot 2-for-11 from the field, scored just six points and committed six turnovers. It was the kind of night where nothing seemed to be working.

His next game was a completely different story. Denver found itself down by 23 points early in the third quarter, but Murray and Nikola Jokic helped bring the Nuggets back. Murray caught fire in the second half, scored 22 of Denver’s 32 points in the third quarter alongside Jokic, and helped force overtime before Denver eventually got the win.

He finished with 42 points and eight three-pointers. The wildest part? Not a single turnover. That’s quite the turnaround in one game. Murray is at his best when he’s confident and letting it fly, and Denver is going to need plenty more nights like that from him this season.

In his third game against the Golden State Warriors, Murray came back down to earth a little. He was double-teamed for much of the game, but still managed an efficient 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Those are the kind of all-around numbers you can expect from Murray on a regular basis, with a few more points likely to come as the season goes on. 

Zach Edey – Memphis Grizzlies

Honestly, it’s just good to see Edey back out there after injuries limited him to only 11 games last season. Getting a healthy start this year is important for the young big man, and through his first few games, he’s averaging 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

His latest outing against the Utah Jazz was a tougher one, though. Edey finished with just four points and three rebounds in 21 minutes, adding two blocks but also picking up five fouls and three turnovers. The foul trouble and turnovers limited what he could do, and it’s a reminder that there will be some growing pains along the way.

There’s still plenty to like about Edey’s ability to protect the rim and battle on the glass. Memphis has reason to give its young players opportunities, and if Edey can stay healthy and clean up some of those mistakes, he has a chance to take on a bigger role as the season goes on.

Kyshawn George – Washington Wizards

George is off to a better start than some might have expected. Last season, he averaged 14.8 points for a Wizards team that dealt with injuries all year. He was asked to take on a bigger scoring role, and he did a pretty good job with it.

With Trae Young and Anthony Davis healthy this season, you might have expected George to take a step back offensively. Instead, he’s averaging 17.8 points on 48.1 percent shooting and is Washington’s third-leading scorer. That’s a nice surprise.

George doesn’t have to carry as much of the load with those two around, but he’s still finding ways to score. That’s what you want to see from a young player: someone who can adjust to his role without disappearing from the offence.

Bennedict Mathurin – New Orleans Pelicans

Mathurin has had a quiet start after landing with the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s averaging just eight points in 17.7 minutes per game, and he hasn’t quite found his place in the rotation yet. That’s not too surprising when you consider how many young players the Pelicans have trying to get their share of the minutes and touches.

Mathurin can score. We’ve seen that. The question right now is how quickly he can earn a bigger role with his new team. Three games isn’t enough to make much of this, but it’s something to watch. If he wants more minutes, he’ll need to make the most of the opportunities he’s getting. There’s plenty of time for that to happen.

Andrew Nembhard – Indiana Pacers

Nembhard had a lot on his plate last season with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, and he responded with the best statistical season of his career averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game. With Haliburton back, the question was whether Nembhard would still get enough opportunities to produce.

So far, he hasn’t missed much of a beat. He’s averaging 16.0 points through the first week, showing that he can remain an important part of Indiana’s offence even with Haliburton back in the picture. That’s a good sign for the Pacers who are looking to go back to the NBA Finals with a healthy squad.

It’s still early

One week isn’t enough to make any big calls about how these seasons will play out. Barrett and Alexander-Walker have started strong, SGA is doing what MVPs do, and Murray has already given us a performance to remember. On the other side, Wiggins and Brooks have some work to do, while Mathurin is still trying to find his role.

That’s the fun of checking in this early. Some of these numbers will look very different a month from now, while others could be the beginning of something bigger. There are plenty more Canadians around the league who deserve a mention, but these are some of the familiar names I’ll be keeping an eye on as the season rolls along. France dethroned Canada this season for title of the second-highest number of NBA players from a single nation, but if Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexander-Walker, Barrett, and others have their say, Canada can still have a more decorated season.